One of the best holidays I have ever had was when I went to Mauritius in 2005. It was entirely unexpected, which made it all the more fun. I’d left a job, a friend who had been working in Mauritius sent me an e-mail and said come out. I checked British Airways and realised that I could get the entire trip on my airmiles if I left within 36 hours and stayed for 3 weeks. Happenstance at its best.
My first experience of Mauritian food was a roti – a flat bread filled with dal served from a wagon at the side of the road next to the fields of sugar cane. Deprived of sleep, and slightly jet lagged after a night flight it was ambrosial – warm, flaky bread filled with a spiced, flavour filled dal, wrapped in a twist of foil. I ate many other rotis during that trip – available everywhere for the equivalent of a few pence, but none quite matched the heights of that first one.
My experience was different to many who visit the island, I was staying in a house and travelling around the amazing island. It is a stunningly beautiful place, and well as the beautiful palm fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean there is much to see and do. Some of the things I discovered were the construction of a 33 metre high statue of Lord Shiva at lake Ganga Talao, a place of pilgrimage for many Hindus, a crocodile farm and giant tortoise sanctuary, the botanical gardens at Pamplemousses. I still wear a scarf I bought in the market at Quatre Bornes, I stumbed upon an English country church looking oddly out of place in the middle of a field of sugar cane, and I shopped for fish in the huge markets of Port Louis. Having been ruled by the Dutch, French and British and influenced by both India and Africa it is a fascinating place of cultures.
My Mauritius of 2005. (Evidently digital photography has come on a long way since then)
Of course we checked into a luxury hotel or two, such as at La Plantation in Mauritius, for the day and enjoyed all the five star services that they had to offer – the groomed beaches with comfortable loungers, delicious buffets and thirst quenching cocktails. When I go back I’d certainly be checking in for the luxury, but also taking the time to see the island beyond.
I cannot recreate the sun, sea, palm trees or the sugar cane plantations, but these rotis filled with a simple dal bring back some holiday memories.
Recipe: Easy Coconut Roti
Ingredients
- 225 g plain white flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbs coconut oil*
- 150 ml water
- Extra flour for dusting
- 1 tsp coconut oil – melted
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a bowl and mix. Knead by hand or with the dough hook of a stand mixer for a few minutes until smooth. Cover and set aside to rest for 30 minutes.
- Divide the mixture into 6, then on a lightly floured work surface roll each ball of dough out to the size of a tea plate.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the both the top and bottom thirds of each roti with coconut oil. Fold each fold into the middle. Repeat with the left and right hand sides, so you are left with a square of rolled dough 9 layers thick.
- To cook the rotis heat a heavy frying pan over a medium heat. Whilst the frying pan is heating roll the first roti again into a round. Dry fry in the pan until it puffs and then flip over. Roll the next roti whist each one is cooking. Once cooked wrap them in a tea towel to keep warm.
- Serve immediately with a bowl of dal.
For more roti, flatbread or dal inspiration why not try these recipes?
- Michelle M’s Dal Makhani
- Michelle R’s Quick Yogurt Flat Breads
- Urvahsi’s guide to dal
- Sarah’s Chickpea Soup with Coriander Chapatti
- Nazima’s Sourdough Naan Breads
- Jac’s Spinach & Coconut Dal
This post is a commissioned recipe for Club Med. All opinions are our own.
Franglais kitchen, Nazima
fabulous – I make similar rotis but tended to use sunflower oil. This sounds a lovely idea and I have a stash of coconut oil so will give a try.
Helen
So easy, the next thing to do is to experiment with freezing them before the final roll.
Jan Bennett
What a fantastic holiday you had. Love your recipe Helen – I could eat that right now!
Helen
It was a lovely trip Jan. I am desperate to go back!
Katie Bryson
What a great post Helen – a lovely recipe transporting you back to a favourite holiday. I’ve never been to Mauritius but my brother went for his honeymoon and it sounds like a truly special place that i’d love to visit one day.
Helen
I adored Mauritius. Such a special place and so much to do there too.
What Kate Baked
We’ve only just returned from holiday but your words and pictures are making me itch to pack my suitcase again!
Helen
Thank you Kate! It was a very very special trip.
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry
I love chances that come along like your trip to Mauritius. What fun. I learned how to make roti on my travel trip to South Africa and cant wait to entertain friends with these. I think I would prefer to use coconut milk like in your version. PS your 4th pic down reminds me of Sierra Leone.
Helen
It was an epic trip Bintu. Happy to have reminded you of Sierra Leone too.
Lynn
This sounds fabulous. And what a holiday!